Long Table- Collaboration to create ceramic cup and vase for project (2018)

About

Velia De Iuliis, born 1990 from San Francisco, splits her time between the Bay Area & Los Angeles, CA. Her paintings predominantly reflects her fascination with symmetry seen in nature, in contrast to the chaos that can be found in an urban world. She received her BFA with distinction in illustration from the California College of the Arts in 2013.

resilience

Velia De Iuliis works from a standpoint of preservation. Her rich gouache & oil paintings pop with endangered plants on sharp backgrounds. By giving these threatened species new life on the canvas, de Iuliis reinvigorates admiration and refocuses attention on the fleeting flowers that may disappear completely in our lifetime. More than a floral painter, De Iuliis uses her art as a call to action and the paintings live on as time capsules. Because these plants are still surviving in their fragmented environments, the works act as a celebration as well as a resource.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work reflects what has fascinated me throughout my life. Themes of symmetry and patterns found in nature as well as nature itself are the avenues that both inspire and captivate me. Science, philosophy and art are tightly bound but to better understand humanity I have to first understand the natural world we live in. History shows us that humanity can be destructive; at times unpredictable, disloyal, selfish and cruel. I continue to find peace and hope within the natural world where instinct is unwavering and questions are answered. In choosing to paint flora and fauna, nature never ceases to fascinate me. Following my instinct, I don’t plan my pieces; instead I first find facts that captivate my attention such as the complexity and lineage of a species but sometimes its their sheer beauty that inspires. I hope that my paintings portray the wonder and constant curiosity I have for this special world, a world where creatures help me to better understand humanity.